Variable friction-gear for spindles



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G. BANGROFT.

\ VARIABLE FRICTIAON GEAR PCB. SPINDLES.`

Patented Nov. 7, 1882-.,

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UNrrEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BANOROFT, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

VARIABLE FRlCTlON-GEAR FOR SPINDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,053, dated November '7, 18E2. Application tiled August 19, 1882. (No model.)-

Io all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE BANceoEr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of lllnois, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Variable Friction-Gears for -tire operation to the control ofthe operator, so

that it may at will he gradually started or stopped or moved with variable speed, and especially is this the case in machines for forming conical or like springs, in which the formers are not.- of a uniform size throughout their lengths. For this reason it is the common practice to connect the former by means of suitable gearing with a crank,which the operator turns with one hand while he guides the wire with the other. g

The objectot' my present invention is to provideau improved machine, which may bedriven by power, and in which the speed of revolution of the former or work-holder can be variedA or stopped at pleasure, the hands of the operator being left free for controlling the work. This object I have accomplished by the mechanism hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly defined in the claims at the end ot' this specification.

Figure 1 is a view of the machine iu vertical section on line m o of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a detail ofthe lever for operating the friction-gear.

A designates the standard of the machine, which is cast in such manner as to form the long central space, a, the base a', and the enlarged upper portion, a2. I/Vithin this upper portion,a2,is carried the spindle B, to the end ot' which is connected the former B', of any desired shape, and to its opposite end is xed the large gear-wheel B2. Meshing with this gear-wheel B2, and below the same, is the small gear-wheel, C, which tits over and is keyed to the sleeve O', held within the journal-bearing O2. The sleeve G is formed in one piece with the back of the friction-plate D, and is provided with an annular shoulder, d, which bears against the journal-seat C2. Through a central perforation in the plate D and the sleeve O', and fixed Itherein, passes the spindle E,the opposite end of which is journaled within the cup-shaped sleeve e, held in the seat- 03 in a manner free to slide. Within the cut-away space a of the standard, and upon the spindle E, is loosely journaled the pulley F, which is constantly driven by a suitable belt from the source ot' power. One side of this pulley constitutes a friction-surface, f, and between this surface and the friction-plate D, and within a suitable annular seat in the latter, is preferably interposed one or more annular frictiondisks, G, of paper, leather,'or other suitable material.

Upon one side of the standard A,below the spindle B, are formed the lugs as, to which is 4pivotally hung the lever H, provided centrally with an enlargement adapted to bear against the top ofthe cup-shaped sleeve e, and having at its end the friction-roller h. Tithin a recess, a", in the base of the standard is journaled the friction-roller 11.', and over the rollers h and h passes the chain or belt J, suitably attached at t to the standard, and connecting the lever H with the treadle J', by means of which the lever is operated.

Having thus described the construction of my machine,I shall now detine its modeof operation.

When the endof the wireof which the spring is to be formed is connected in the ordinary way to the end of the former B', the operator depresses the treadle J which bears thelever H, against the sleeve c, and causes it to move the pulley F, which in turn forces the disk G against the friction-plate D. As the pulley F is constantly rotating, it is obvious that its inotion will be communicated to the friction-plate when the two bear upon the interposed paper disk G, the degree of movement and power imparted being proportionate to the friction between the two. Thus, when but a slight pressureis exerted on the treadle, the frictional contact between the plate D, the surface fof the pulley, and the interposed disk will be correspondingly small, and the movement communicated by the friction-plate to the former B through the gear-wheels will be very slow. 0n the other hand, this movement, it is apparent, may beincreased and varied at pleasure by a variance of the pressure upon the treadle.

y, By this construction of machine the hands ot' the operator are free to guide the wire in forming the springs, and the former can be rotated rapidly or slowly,or can be stopped at any desired stage of the operation.

My invention,-while particularly applicable to machines for forming spiral springs, may be `usefully applied in many other connections same.L I am not aware, however, that before my invention a variable friction-gear has been A combined with a spindle having a free end and adapted to carrya former, whereby the movement of the forme-r could be controlled at pleasure. y

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the spindle carrying upon its free end a foriner, ot' the gear- Wheels, the driving mechanism, and the variable friction-gear, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the spindle B, of a friction-plate, D, constantly connected therewith, a movable friction plate or surface constantly connected to the driving mechanism, and means, substantially as describeihforforcing said friction-plates together, as set forth.

3. Thecombination,with thespindleB,ofthe friction-plate D, the belt-pulley F, having the friction-surface f, the lever H, and treadle J', all substantially as described.

' GEORGE BANGROFT. Witnesses:

GEORGE P. FISHER, Jr., STEPHEN L. MERsHoN. 

